Search

Main Navigation

Main Content

[1-News-Head]

[ANCHOR=Keith]

Virginia's Transportation Board backtracks and re-routes Interstate 73.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Plus, police are searching for more than answers in connection with a body found in a local lake.
We'll tell you WHO they're looking for.
(------------)

[Sports-Head]

[ANCHOR=mike]
[NEWSCAST=]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Tonight on News 7 sports, Former Friday Football Extra player of the week Tom Hagan accepts a full ride to UVa.
Tech may be dipping into the SEC for some football competition in 2002.
We're check on the horse show.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And see how Rick Ankiel faired in his Appalachian League debut last night in Johnson City.
(------------)

[WX-Head]
[ANCHOR=Robin]
[SS=None]

Thunderstorms greeted the first official day of summer 2001. And more will follow tomorrow. Details in the forecast coming up.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon 3-Shot]

[I-73]

Heavy lobbying paid off for Martinsville and Henry County today.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board rescinded last month's route decision on I-73, and voted immediately on a new route to the east.
[Double Boxes=Shannon & Ellen /State Microwave]

NOT publicly, Shannon.
The board members who'd pushed through an eastern route around Martinsville last month -- over the objections of Salem member Lorinda Lionberger -- say they were right to go east for economic development reasons.
But they were the first to admit today they picked the wrong eastern route.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The route the board approved]
[SUPER=01-Ben Humphreys/Commonwealth Transportation Board; :23]
[SUPER=03-Henry Co.; :38]
[SUPER=01-Sid Clower/Henry Co. Administrator; :46 ]
[RUNS=1:03]
[OUT Q=county for years to come.]
(( The route the board approved in May used the existing routes 58 and 220 south of Martinsville.
Today, board members said that was a bad idea, because construction on roads already fraught with danger -- instead of on a completely new road -- was poor planning.
So they immediately adopted a new route farther to the east than their May proposal -- a route Henry County had favored all along.
[sot tape 12:41:17 ]
((BEN HUMPHREYS/COMMONWEALTH TRANS. BOARD: I'M ULTIMATELY HAPPY WITH THE WAY IT WORKED. WE LOOKED INTO THE SITUATION AND SAW THAT WE NEEDED TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND MAKE THE CHANGE AND WE DID IT. AND THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROCESS, WE MADE THE CHANGE.))
[runs= 14]

The new route avoids the Shannon Hills and Farmingdale subdivisions, as well as the Marrowbone water treatment plant.
It takes half the wetlands acreage, and 25 percent less farmland.
[sot tape 12:38:43 ]
((SID CLOWER/HENRY CO. ADMINISTRATOR: I THINK OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INPUT ON THIS. WE SENT CORRESPONDENCE AND MAPS AND OTHER THINGS DOWN HERE AND I WAS VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT ALL THOSE COMMENTS WERE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION TODAY. AND THE ACTION I THINK BENEFITS HENRY COUNTY FOR YEARS TO COME.))
[runs= 17 ] ))
(-------------)
[Live=Ellen Full/State Microwave]
[SUPER=05-Richmond;]
( ad lib)
[Double Boxes=Ellen and Shannon/State Microwave]

[Patrick-Body]

Henry County authorites are hoping to question a man about a 12-year-old murder case.
They found the body of Ether Adean Smith Monday in Philpott Lake, while searching for another missing person.
Now, they have some questions for a man who may know something about the case.
[***NEWS 7 @ 6 MB GRAPHIC***]
[DOUBLE BOXES= Shannon & Marya/MB SET;]

Marya Jones has been talking to authorities and has more.
[LIVE= Marya /FULL MB SET]
[SUPER=@Marya1;]

Shannon, Henry County Sheriff Frank Cassell says he's looking to speak with 39-year-old Timothy Wayne Willis of Hardy.
He's NOT a suspect at this time.
The sheriff describes him as a former "acquaintance," who was questioned about Smith's disappearance 12 years ago.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[***MARYA'S MIC HOT***]
Willis had been an inmate in the Franklin County jail on a work-release program, serving an unrelated firearms sentence.
[SUPER=03-Patrick Co./Tuesday]

The Franklin County Sheriff confirms that on Tuesday, after Smith's body was found, Willis did NOT return to jail from work.
Ether Smith was discovered in Philpott Lake during a search for ANOTHER missing person Monday.
Her body was inside a sealed metal drum.
(------------)
[***NEWS 7 @ 6 MB GRAPHIC***]
[LIVE= Marya/FULL MB SET]

Again, Willis not being called a suspect by authorities.
[DOUBLE BOXES= Shannon & Marya/MB SET;]

22- year- old Brandon Wayne Hedrick was sentenced to die in 1998 for the rape, robbery and murder of Lisa Yvonne Crider.
But the Virginia Supreme Court ordered an evidentiary hearing for Hedrick after one of his attorneys claimed his partner was not prepared for the case and did a poor job cross-examining key witnesses.
Judge Richard Blanton could order a new trial when the hearing wraps up tomorrow.
(------------)

[Toller]

A Campbell County man will spend 24 years in prison for killing three people while driving drunk last fall.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :18]
[SUPER=03-Campbell Co.]

Maurice McKinley Toller (TOE-ler) was sentenced today on three counts of involuntary manslaughter, maiming, D-U-I second offense and driving without a license.
The October 27th crash killed Ramona Woodruff, her son Taron (TAY-run) and his cousin Jonathan Anthony.
The prosecution had asked for a stiff prison term.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:34:49]
[IN Q=Most of the]
((NEIL VENER/PROSECUTOR: MOST OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS WERE SATISFIED WITH THE COURT'S DECISION. I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY NOTHING'S GOING TO BRING BACK THEIR LOVED ONES, BUT IT DOES LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT IF YOU GO OUT THERE AND DRINK, YOU'RE GOING TO FACE REAL CONSEQUENCES AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE JUDGE SHOWED HERE TODAY.))
[SUPER=01-Neil Vener/Prosecutor]
[RUNS=13]
[OUT Q=showed here today.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Toller's attorney argued his client has an I-Q of 53 and the mentality of a 9 or 10- year- old.
He plans to appeal the sentence.
(------------)

[Kibble]

Former Virginia Tech punter Jimmy Kibble was in court today for having inappropriate sexual contact with two high school students.
23-year old Kibble was an assistant football coach at Osburn Park High School. He admitted to having inappropriate consensual sexual contact with two 16-year-old students.
He pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts of contributing to the deliquency of a minor.
He'll be sentenced July 13th.

[Parry-McCluer]

[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=rle]
[TAPE#=01-38 TC07:04]
[GRAPHIC=None]
Buena Vista's new 12-and-a-half million dollar Parry McCluer High School is almost completed.
The city's been hard at work for several years, giving the school a personal touch.
Richard Lesko has more.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Buena Vista; :00]
[SUPER=01-Chris Barger/2001 Parry McCluer Graduate; :21]
[SUPER=01-Earl Downs/Parry McCluer Principal; :39]
[SUPER=@Richard2; 1:11]
[RUNS=1:34]
[OUT Q=RL, News 7, Buena Vista]
((For the past three years, advanced cabinet making students in Buena Vista have been building their school's future .. making nearly every trophy case, table, and cabinet for the new Parry McCluer High School.
Even since graduating this year, Chris Barger and Chris Whitt have been hammering away 5 days a week.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 5:20 PM2]
[INQ=Now I can go up...]
((CHRIS BARGER/2001 PARRY MCCLUER GRADUATE; NOW I CAN GO UP TO THE NEW SCHOOL AND MAYBE MY KIDS WILL BE UP THERE AND I CAN TELL THEM I MADE ALL THE FURNITURE FOR IT.))
[OUTQ=furniture for it.]
[RUNS7]
The old Parry McCluer High School building will be taken over by the middle school in late August. Until then the old school on 24th street sits, in boxes, waiting to make the move.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 23:24:18 PM1]
[INQ=Now we're moving out of that...]
((EARL DOWNS/PARRY MCCLUER PRINCIPAL; NOW WE'RE MOVING OUT OF THAT PIECE OF HISTORY ON 24TH STREET AND CHESTNUT, AND WE WANT TO BRING THE SAME COMMUNITY SPIRIT TO THIS NEW BUILDING WITH US. ))
[OUTQ=new building with us]
[RUNS10]
Principal Downs says the effort shows the community's pride and commitment to doing a job well. He hopes that spirit can be moved along with the classrooms and books.
(//////SOT/////)
[SOT - 23:27:00 PM1]
[INQ-We're not creating a school...]
((WE'RE NOT CREATING A SCHOOL, WE'RE ADJUSTING OUR SCHOOL TO A NEW BUILDING, WE'RE TAKING YOUNGSTERS WHO ARE PROUD TO BE PARRY McCluer FIGHTING BLUES, AND PROUD TO BE FROM THE CITY OF BUENA VISTA, AND WE'RE JUST TRANSFERRING OUR LOCATION))
[OUTQ=transferring our location]
[RUNS14].
Contractors continue to put the finishing touches on the building, and students and volunteers are working hard to make sure the school will be open and ready on time.
While the memories of the old high school likely won't fade away, starting in late August, Buena Vista students will be making new memories at Parry McCluer, just at its new location. Richard Lesko, News 7, Buena Vista.))
[Tease#1]
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=NONE]

He's the man in charge of a University for women.
Hear why Walter Rugaber intends to keep the school exclusive, next on News 7.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]

And it started with Virginia Tech merchandise last year.
Now a Roanoke e-commerce company is adding more than 60 other schools to its inventory.
(----------------)

[Rugaber]

[ANCHOR=Shan]
[NEWSCAST=6 p.m.]
[WRITER=syo]
[TAPE#=01-19 TC1:09:45]
[GRAPHIC=Hollins Univ.]
[***ANCHOR TAG***]
Hollins University is under new management after five year president Janet Rasmussen vacated the position earlier this year.
The chair is now filled by a long-time member of the school's board of trustees.
News 7 had a chance to talk to Walter Rugaber, former publisher of the Roanoke Times, about the newest chapter in his life.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=I had just retired from my job...]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.;:08]
[SUPER=01-Walter Rugaber/Hollins University Interim President;:24]
[RUNS=1:35]
[OUT Q=get that sense of self confidence.]
(([SOT 1:14:01-1:14:07]
[IN Q=I had just retired from my job...]
((I had just retired from my job and in their view I had nothing else to do.))
[RUNS=:06]
[OUT Q=I had nothing else to do.]
Walter Rugaber isn't exactly sure how he wound up as president of this small women's college, although the time he spent on the board of trustees guaranteed his familiarity with the school and its issues.
But he does know he's going to make the most of his year in office.
[SOT 1:00:31-1:00:49]
[IN Q=I really have gotten quite caught up...]
((I really have gotten quite caught up in the strengths of the place and what the possibilities are and what the story is in Hollins and how that story can be gotten out.))
[RUNS:18]
[OUT Q=how that story can be gotten out.]
Like the former newspaper man he is, Rugaber talks about the tasks ahead as if developing a plot.
The story he plans to tell is one of committed educators at an institution rich in history.
His priority is boosting a sagging enrollment rate.
If those numbers climb he says the school's endowment, which has also been an issue in past years, will take care of itself.
While many other women's colleges are opening their doors to members of the opposite sex, Rugaber insists the main characters at Hollins will continue to be female.
[SOT 1:11:21-1:11:40]
[IN Q=They have so many skills...]
((They have so many skills that're so wonderful and if they have the confidence in themselves to follow that they can do great things. I think that's why a single-sex college for an awful lot of women is the perfect place to come and get that sense of self confidence.))
[RUNS:19]
[OUT Q=that sense of self confidence.]))
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[SS=HOLD]
Rugaber says a search for the next president will most likely start in the fall.

[Univ-HQ]

A Roanoke-based Internet company is expanding its product line.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/October]

Jaret Mutter and Jonathan Mitchell left their studies at Virginia Tech to start University Headquarters dot com.

Their Roanoke-based e-commerce company used to sell Virginia Tech merchandise only.
Now the pair has signed a contract which will allow them to sell merchandise from 62 other colleges and universities.
350-thousand dollars worth of merchandise is being brought up on the web and will be for sale by July.
(------------)

[Mason-Dixon]

Virginia's Republican leaders receive strong marks in part three of the latest News 7 Mason-Dixon poll.
(XXXXXXXX)
[TAKE PINNACLE 1002]
Senator John Warner remains the state's most popular office-holder. Two out of three registered voters surveyed rate his job performance as excellent or good.
[TAKE PINNACLE 1003]
Freshman Senator George Allen also does well after six months on the job. Statewide, 59 percent rate his performance as excellent or good.
[TAKE PINNACLE 1004]
Governor Jim Gilmore has seen his numbers rebound slightly since the budget stalemate earlier this year.
Across Virginia, 56 percent of those polled gave the governor a rating of excellent or good, up from 52 percent in March. His support was strongest in Lynchburg and southside, weakest in southwest Virginia.
(------------------)
[ANCHOR=Shannon]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]

But the survey also suggests Gilmore won't have much impact on the 2001 Governor's race.
62 percent of Virginia voters say their opinion of Gilmore will have no effect on their choice between Democrat Mark Warner and Republican Mark Earley.

[Arts-Funding]

Virginia's arts community met in Richmond today to draw attention to the devastating budget blow it will receive July first.
That's when most museums and cultural centers get "zeroed out" in the state budget.
(------------)
[VO-NAT :07]
[SUPER=403-Richmond]

The group heard from both candidates for governor today that how the state handles their funding will change.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT 10:51:33]
[IN Q=If I get hired for]
((MARK WARNER/D-CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR: IF I GET HIRED FOR THIS JOB, YOU'RE GONNA SEE A LOT OF CULTURAL CHANGES TAKE PLACE, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS SYSTEM BASED ON THE CLOUT OF AN INDIVIDUAL LEGISLATOR DOESN'T WORK.))
[SOT 12:58:42]
((MARK EARLEY/R-CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR: PART OF THE ANSWER, AS I SAID, MAY BE IN FOCUSING MORE ON HAVING WHAT THE STATE DOES GO TOWARD CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR THESE VARIOUS AGENCIES, AND NOT TOWARD OPERATING EXPENSES.))
[SUPER=@MarkWarner; :00 ]
[SUPER=@Earley; :12]
[RUNS=:23]
[OUT Q=and not toward operating expenses.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT :14]

Both Warner and Earley agree that some means of evaluating how the museums spend the money should be set up.
And Warner suggests a lump sum be handed out regionally, so museum budget decisions could be made more locally.
(------------)

[Sports Tease]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC=]
Coming up tonight on News 7 sports, a Friday Football Extra player of the week is headed to UVa.
Rick Ankiel shows flashes of his old brilliance in the Appalachian League.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
And we'll meet a family that has been a part of the Roanoke Valley Horse show for its entire 30 year history.
(-------------)

[S-Hagan]

Former Friday Football Extra player of the week and Cave Spring rising senior Tom Hagan has accepted a full scholarship to play football at the University of Virginia.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; :00]

Hagan will punt for the Cavaliers. He was all district, all region and Associated Press all state last season averaging 43.5 yards a punt. Hagan also kicks off and registered 24 touchbacks out of a possible 36 tries. He also caught six touchdown passes as a receiver and made seven interceptions from his defensive back position.
Hagan made his official visit to UVa yesterday and chose the Wahoos over Michigan, Ohio State, Tennessee and Maryland.
Hagan, who is six foot two and 185 pounds, is also planning to play baseball at Virginia. He will officially sign with UVa on the first Tuesday in February, national signing day.
(------------)

[S-MLB]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=sp-100 800tc]
[GRAPHIC=mlb]
There are a couple of games in the big leagues today on this first day of summer.
The Marlins already have beaten the Braves 3-to-2.
Chicago beat St. Louis 5-to-2.
[GRAPHIC=APPY LEAGUE]
Last night the Appalachian League got a taste of the big leagues as St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher Rick Ankiel
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Johnson City, TN/Last Night; :00]
continued his rehab stint in the rookie league.
The Left hander worked four strong innings as a starter in Johnson City leading the Cardinals to a 2-1 victory over Elizabethton.
Ankiel gave up only one hit, one walk and one unearned run. He struck out seven, hit one batter, had no wild pitches and threw no balls to the screen. He did have one throwing error, but also was part of a bang-bang inning ending doubel play.
(-----------------)

[S-Family]

The Roanoke Valley Horse show is celebrating it's 30-th anniversary this year. And this morning Roy Stanley ran into a family that's competed in all 30 shows.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="While many...]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-Claude Shiflet/Trainer; :14]
[SUPER=01-Harrison Shiflet/Traner; :42]
[SUPER=01-Matthew Shiflet/Trainer; :49]
[SUPER=@Roy1; 1:18]
[RUNS=1:25]
[OUT Q=......news 7 sports."]
((While many stables were showing their horses in the arena, The Shiflet family of Asheboro, North Carolina was taking a break at their barn. The same corner barn they've occupied for 30 years at the Roanoke Valley Horse show.))
((CLAUDE SHIFLET/TRAINER:))
((Claude has passed the business down to his son Harrison, who in turn has guided his son Matthew into horses as well.

That gives the Shiflet's, who specialize in the American Saddle Breed, three generations of horse trainers.
And so far this week, the family has collected five blue ribbons.))
((HARRISON SHIFLET/TRAINER:))
((MATTHEW SHIFLET/TRAINER:))
((Matthew is the rider in the family. But before its over it will be up to him to continue the family business.))
((MATTHEW:))
((ROY STANLEY:))
(---------------)

[S-VMI]

News 7 Sports has learned that Virginia Tech and LSU are talking about firing up a home and home series in football.
The games would take place in 2002 and 2004.
LSU is currently under contract to play BYU on those dates, but Brigham Young's new coach wants out of the games.
At this time nothing is final, but if negotiations are completed it will make the first time ever that Tech and LSU have played in football.
LSU head coach Nick Saban is a West Virginia native and very familiar with Blacksburg.

[S-Irvin]

[ANCHOR=Mike]
[NEWSCAST=6pm]
[WRITER=mst]
[TAPE#=SP-91 20036TC]
[GRAPHIC=COWBOYS]
Former Dallas Cowboy Michael Irvin who has never been one to shy away from the spotlight or trouble has found both again.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Landover, MD; :00]
Irvin was indicted today on a charge of possessing less than a gram of cocaine stemming from an arrest last summer.

He plans to plead innocent to the drug charge, according to his attorney - who says they will fight it to the end.
Irvin, insists he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and the drugs were not his.
(------------)
In 1996, Irvin pleaded no contest to felony cocaine possession.